Alleging that Pollution Control Boards in the country allowing industrial pollution becoming corrupt, Dr Reddy said that an independent Pollution Control Authority should be created on the lines of Election Commission.

MANY CITIES in the country, including Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh are potential to face Bhopal-type disasters due to government’s apathy to come to the rescue of Bhopal gas tragedy victims. This was feared by several speakers at a meeting held in Hyderabad on December 3rd, to mark the 25th anniversary of Bhopal disaster.

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The meeting was conducted as part of International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB), by Indian Liberal Group (ILG), Jana Chaitanya Vedika, Amnesty International-Hyderabad, Association for Promoting Social Action (APSA) and PUCL. Jana Chaitanya Vedika president V Lakshmana Reddy presided.

The meeting demanded that the impact of the gas leak should be fully remediated by cleaning up and decontaminating the former Union Carbide factory site and surrounding areas, people affected from the gas lead should be provided adequate rehabilitation that includes adequate economic compensation, medical care, social rehabilitation, and the provision of information on the impact of the leak and finally, the Union C arbide should be held accountable for its decisions, its failure to take preventive measures to avoid the gas leak disaster and its failures in the aftermath of the leak.

APSA Director S Srinivasa Reddy led the participating people to pay tributes to the Bhopal gas leak victims by lighting candles. The chief guest Dr S Jeevananda Reddy said that more than 10,000 people had died due to gas leak and over half a million people were affected.

Dr Reddy warned that many cities are under the verge of similar disasters as chemical factories are not treating solid waste, but depositing the same in side the soil. As a result, he said 80 per cent of water is contaminated one around Hyderabad.

Alleging that Pollution Control Boards in the country allowing industrial pollution becoming corrupt, he said that an independent Pollution Control Authority should be created on the lines of Election Commission.

Advocate B Sandhya, human rights activist Ch. Narendra and IT professional Prakash Narayan also spoke. Lakshmana Reddy announced that they would form Hyderabad Pollution Prevention Committee soon with experts and civil society groups.

On this occasion a photo exhibition was arranged explaining the consequences of Bhopal disaster.